Local ISPs in many cities are down to duopoly or monopoly. Either phone company and cable company or either or depending on the area.

Lots of people somehow existing on their 4G/5G phone only. Unsure how they are doing that with anemic plan limits on bandwidth.

I cut the phone cord 20 years ago. Did away with paid VOIP 5+ years ago.

When I cut local internet it was because bill rose and rose higher. No discounts would be extended by them. Meanwhile constantly calling about dropped signal to router and terrible throughput. All because they weren't expanding their infrastructure and existing on decades old roll out.

If Starlink was available where I am, I'd consider it and I am in a populated area where people like PCMAG writer would head scratch about. Even if paying a bit more, so far Starlink performs consistently and reliably. Unlike the crap offered locally.